Carbonated Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) have been associated with gastroesophageal reflux, an established risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. As both CSD consumption and esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence have sharply increased in recent decades, we examined CSD as a risk factor for esophageal and gastric cancers in a U.S. multicenter, population-based case-control study. Associations between CSD intake and risk were estimated by adjusted odds ratios (ORs), comparing the highest versus lowest quartiles of intake. All statistical tests were two-sided. Contrary to the proposed hypothesis, CSD consumption was inversely associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma risk (highest versus lowest quartiles, OR = 0.47, 95% confidence interval = 0.29 to 0.76; Ptrend = .005), due primarily to intake of diet CSD. High CSD consumption did not increase risk of any esophageal or gastric cancer subtype in men or women or when analyses were restricted to nonproxy interviews. These findings indicate that CSD consumption (especially diet CSD) is inversely associated with risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, and thus it is not likely to have contributed to the rising incidence rates.

Cancers of the esophagus and carbonated beverage consumption: a population-based case–control study

“…In addition, we found no significant association between high intake of carbonated soft drinks and EGJAC risk. This is consistent with the findings of other authors [6,7]. Lagergren et al [6] and Mayne et al [7] observed no significant association between high intake of carbonated soft drink and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.…”

“…This null finding is consistent with the findings of the few previous reports [7,8]. In addition, we found no significant association between high intake of carbonated soft drinks and EGJAC risk.…”

“…We observed a 60% reduction in risk of SCC of the esophagus in those who reported consuming high amounts of carbonated soft drink, consistent with several earlier reports [7,9]. Mayne and colleagues observed that high consumers of diet-carbonated soft drinks had a significantly reduced risk of 'other esophageal tumor types' including esophageal SCC.…”

“…However, several large population-based epidemiological studies from North America and Europe examining the role of carbonated soft drinks as a risk factor for EAC, EGJAC, or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus have generally reported null or inverse associations. Mayne et al [7] from the United States reported a significant inverse trend between high consumption of carbonated soft drinks and risk of EAC, and a non-significant inverse trend with risk of esophageal SCC in a population-based case-control study. Similarly, Lagergren et al [8] from Sweden reported no association between consumption of soft drinks or lowalcohol beer and risk of EAC in another population-based case-control study.…”

Consumption of Aspartame-Containing Beverages and Incidence of Hematopoietic and Brain Malignancies

“…Our findings of no increased risk of brain cancer, although limited to malignant gliomas, are consistent with the majority of animal studies (7-9, 11) and a human case-control study on brain cancer (12): the protective association between aspartame and gliomas may be due to chance or residual confounding by other dietary/life-style factors, as suggested by another finding of an inverse association of diet soda for esophageal adenocarcinoma (24). Our findings are in direct contradiction with a recent rat study that claimed carcinogenicity of aspartame in hematopoietic, nervous, and other systems (13,14).…”